The Entebbe High Court on Friday convicted Kyagaba Charles, a notorious land grabber in Wakiso District, on several charges, including malicious damage to property, fraudulent procurement of land titles, criminal trespass, assault, and forcible entry, among others.
According to prosecution, Kyagaba, together with others still at large, had for years terrorised residents in Wakiso, especially in Entebbe, by fraudulently claiming ownership of their properties.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit, in collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Criminal Investigations Directorate, arrested him in September 2022 following public outcry and numerous victim reports.
The conviction follows years of complaints from residents in Entebbe and Wakiso, who accused Kyagaba of systematically targeting property owners through fraudulent claims, forged documents, illegal evictions and violent demolitions.
Kyagaba first gained notoriety in land wrangles across Kampala and Wakiso as early as 2001, according to police and media investigations. He reportedly operated by opening mysterious police cases, securing court injunctions on properties already sold or occupied, filing lawsuits and utilizing fictitious customary land holders to assert fraudulent claims.
By 2021, public records and media reports characterized him as a dominant figure in Kampala-Wakiso land disputes.
In 2022, Kyagaba was arrested in a joint operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit and the police, and arraigned before the Entebbe Chief Magistrates court, after he and three others unlawfully destroyed a house belonging to Kyomuhangi Margaret found in Ziru Village, Wakiso district, claiming that she had built it in his (Kyagaba’s) Kibanja.
At the time Kyagaba, claimed he was given the land by Naiyiga Queen Mary for having assisted her to chase away the illegal occupants from her land.
However, Nayiga dismissed Kyagaba’s claims.
Kyagaba and his workers, including Kabuusu Benon, Komachech, and Wasswa, forcefully demolished Kyomuhangi’s house with the view of chasing her away from the Kibanja, saying she had bought it fraudulently from Nayiga—inviting the attention of the Anti Corruption Unit.
Kyagaba is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18th.
